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UNITED STATES PATENT UFFICEJ CHARLES F. TAYLOR, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

- APPARATUS FOR REDUCING SPINAL CURVATURE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 32,014, dated April 9, 1861 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. TAYLOR, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented an which it pertains or is most nearly allied to make and use my invention.

My invention consists in, first, the combination of two posts fitted with sliding rests or bearings for the body, one of which is hinged to the floor, and the other either hinged to the flooralso, or stationary; the said posts and slides being constructed, arranged, and operated, substantially as here inafter described; second, the combination with the two posts and the sliding rests above mentioned, of a third post hinged to the floor at the bottom, and provided with a slide, and pad which fits under the arm of the patient holding him bent over so that the muscles on the concave side of the spinal column shall be extended, as hereinafter set forth and described.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, Figure 1, is a side elevation of the apparatus, showing the different parts ad justed to the person of a patient, which is also shown. Fig. 2, is a side elevation of one of the posts or supports, showing the arrangement of the pawl and ratchet which hold the slide in position, also the pawl and ratchet which hold the post and the pad which it supports up against the patient.

1 is the stationary post with the slide 2, held in place by the pawl 4, and ratchet 5. This post is made the shortest of the three, as the pad which it supports comes lowest down on the patient. The next in height is the post 6, the pad of which comes opposite the point of greatest curvature. It also has a sliding bar 8, in it, held up in its place by the pawl 7, and ratchet 9. These pawls are held in close contact with the ratchets, by springs one of which is shown at 10, in Fig. 2. i

11, is the hinge by which the post 6, is secured to the floor and which allows the said post to move laterally to and from the patient for purposes of adjustment. This post is held up against the person of the patient by the brace 12, acted on by the spring 13, which draws it down against the teeth 14,011 the post 6, said brace 12, and teeth 14, acting as a pawl and ratchet. The brace 12 is hinged to the floor at 15, which allows it to be bent back out of the way, while the patient is being put into and taken out of the machine.

The post 16, is precisely similar to post 6, with two exceptions: first, it is curved at the top so as to reach sufficiently far with out coming in contact with the post 1; sec ond, the pad instead of being placed at the same'height as the one on post 6, is placed farther up, close under the arm of the patient. By thls means the patlent 1s supported, and can, consequently, remain longer in the position into which the apparatus forces him.

In using my apparatus, I first adjust the pad at the top of the bar 2, then press the pad at the top of the bar 8, close against the point of greatest curvature, and having bent the patient over as much as desirable, in the direction toward post 6, I fasten him there by means of post 16, and its attachments.

The difference in the form of the spinal column, before, and after the patient is in the apparatus is shown by dotted lines, along the back of the patient, in the region of the spinal column.

Having thus fully described my inven tion, I claim,

1. The combination of the posts 1, and 6, (with their adjustable supports 8, and 2,) one being hinged to the floor to allow lateral adjustment, and the other either hinged to the floor or stationary, as may be desired; the whole being constructed, combined, and arranged, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The combination with the two posts 1, and 6, and their adjustable supports 8, and 2, above referred to, of a third post 16, constructed in a similar manner to the first two and hinged at the bottom, as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

CHAS. F. TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

WM. H. RIBLET, THos. P. How. 

